VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[justindtorres]

Hi Everyone,

This is the FIRST time I'm looking for critique and I'm literally holding my breath as I'm typing and squinting my eyes as if someone was about to beat me without mercy. hehe. (literally true)

But, on my website I have a few demos, doesn't matter which one. The reason why I made so many was because I figure it's a skill that hopefully I can pass off as being semi-produced professionally. So, practice makes perfect. Plus, I literally am in that step in the process where I'm about to make a CD-cover and get ready to send out to non-union agents, so here goes.

Also, keep in mind that I'm doing a first run of email to non-union agents and if I get an agent or two I would use whatever money I make from then on to get a professionaly demo produced for the switch to union, it's just right now, monetarily, it's not in the cards.

Anyways, here's my website http://www.justindtorres.com/

Pick a demo
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Website: http://www.everythingvoiceover.com
http://www.justindtorres.com

Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-880581076

Blog: http://justindtorres.blogspot.com/

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/everythingvoiceover

[Philip Banks]

I like what you do and the way you sound so wish you good luck.

Web site - Watch where you promise to give information and actually give nothing.

About Justin really says nothing.
Studio says nothing and unless it establishes pro credibility people don't need to know.
Request a quote is a bit builder or delivery driver - Get in touch or contact me is enough.

[justindtorres]

Thanks a lot Philip. I'm probably gonna put testimonials instead of about Me. Maybe I'll just specify the fact that I can record and produce out of home somewhere. Great advice about the request a quote!!!

This is great advice. Thank you so much.
_________________
Website: http://www.everythingvoiceover.com
http://www.justindtorres.com

Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-880581076

Blog: http://justindtorres.blogspot.com/

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/everythingvoiceover

[Philip Banks]

Testimonials have to pass the "So what?" test and few of them do so once again beware thinking you're saying something when you are in fact saying nothing.

In a testimonial the name, organisation and the quote really has to be Wow factor 10. Everyone's opinion (testimonial) is valid but few are valued by anyone in the commercial/marketing context.

Make every single word on your web site stand up to the closest examination.

[Bruce]

Welcome aboard Justin. You clearly have talent and you certainly fit into a popular voiceover niche. I only listened to bits of your commercial and corporate demos. Biggest thought, considering you have production experience, is all the selections sound like they were recorded in the same place with the same equipment. When you have the time I'd consider playing with the tools at hand such as EQ and compression to make them sound like they came from different sources. Not everything, but enough to make it interesting.

As for the website, less is more. I'd kill the Voice Details since that's obvious from your demo list, the About since buyers don't usually have the time to read it and only truly care about how you sound, and the studio details since most voiceoverists are known to do all of that. I'd move the Contact details near the top, the recent clients further up and one or two of the best reference quotes. And keep updating the clients and quotes as better ones come your way.

And maybe most important is a branding slogan near the very top that starts to build their expectations. For example: Young, fun, and right next door! Consult with others, but it's your choice on wording.

Look at more websites of working professionals. You'll see that most have learned to cut to the chase.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[justindtorres]

It seems like with a website it is less is more. I have a few side questions about websites, since it seems like that's kind of what this topic turned into which is great, because critique is critique and I'm here to learn as much as I can. And I will definitely run a few equalizers around the demo to make it sound different, I remember seeing a similar critique about that on another post.

Regarding Website:

Philip was great enough to advise me to get rid of About Me and Studio Details. (About me was just filler admittedly). Testimonials, unfortunately, I have very few and they are good but not from huge sponsors or anything close to that but a review is a review. Bruce was also helpful in saying get rid of Voice Details. This leaves Demos and Contact Me and I guess recent clients. Here are my questions then.

1) Should I assume that people know that I can create my own fully produced tracks? (the sole reason for studio details) I've heard there are voice artists without home studios and only go into pro-studios.

2) Do I need to specify Non-Union or Union? (a big reason for voice details)

As a non-union person, I prepare for worst or best case scenario. So in my nightmares, I get a best case scenario of some big gig out of nowhere who comes to my site and worst case scenario finds out I'm non-union and cant hire me. Or a client comes to my site and says, "Well, it doesn't say here that he has his own studio so.... might as well move on to someone who specifies because I'm too lazy to email them."

Just addressing the fears of a new voice artist.
_________________
Website: http://www.everythingvoiceover.com
http://www.justindtorres.com

Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/user-880581076

Blog: http://justindtorres.blogspot.com/

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/everythingvoiceover

[Yonie]

If you have Source Connect, ISDN, phone patch or any combination of these; it would be a good idea to list that.

I'm not gonna claim a certainty here, but I doubt many clients would stumble on your site and ask for fully produced tracks. Most likely they'll want dry voice tracks.

I'll leave the question about union information to the veterans. It would probably be a good idea for yourself to decide if you'd be willing to go union, should a client offer you a project that demands it.

I pull this information from the following sources:

- Hearsay.
- Own logic.
- Eavesdropping on conversations.

[Bruce]

I'd certainly mention full production capabilities. Not to tout my site as a paragon, note on my site I have two short lines about myself and then a brief mention of my technical abilities. If you've produced a number of interesting pieces, maybe even featuring other voices, it might not hurt to add a Production Demo to your list. If you're marketing to ad agencies then mentioning your production abilities in your queries is certainly a plus. Almost all others just want your voice.

I don't have numbers to back me up, but I'm thinking the vast majority of VOs are non-union or Fi-core, so only those who are hard core AFTRA would need to or want to list that on their sites.

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .